Spicy Chicken Chipotle Cream Sauce Pasta

Posted By
Savita

Today's recipe is copycat of Cheesecake Factory's Spicy Chicken Chipotle Cream Sauce Pasta. I simply love their Chipotle Pasta... The hint of spice, creamy sauce, crunchy veggies, and succulent chicken.... oh, and crispy tortilla chips!!! yumm! There is nothing in this dish which I don't like.

You know the best part? You can skip chicken and it still is flavorful Italian vegetarian dinner or lunch.

With just 15 minutes of cooking time, Chipotle Sauce can be blended in advance and used multiple times for quick weekday dinner! Sounds even better! Isn't it? And it costs just fraction of what you will pay for dinner of four!

Original recipe calls for Honey Glazed Chicken. I shared a healthier version of Honey Glazed Chicken a few days ago. If you want to try that with Chipotle Pasta, follow the recipe link in notes.

I'm sure you know by now that I LOVE pasta! In India, few years back, there were not many restaurants offering pasta in menu. So obviously I have not grown up on it.

Close to my office in India, there was a Pasta House by name 'Noodle Company'. Once my colleagues took me for lunch there and I ordered Fettuccine Alfredo. Oh boy, did I enjoy it? loved it.. adored it... dreamed about it for days! Perfect sign of a foodie! Isn't it? Though I was not THAT foodie kind those days.... Or should I say, I thought I wasn't. :-)

So, I visited that restaurant a couple of times and every time felt like 'kid in a candy store'......... Never ever bothered to even think about the recipes. Just enjoyed eating good pasta varities. It's funny, my hometown was 3 hours drive from my office. One weekend, when I was visiting my parents, I even packed a few pastas to-go. I'm sure you can imagine, what they become by the time I reached home -pasta pancakes!!! And I felt chef not made them good. lol!!

These days, story is totally different. Everything I eat out, I wanna make at home!! Often I'm not enjoying food rather thinking about recipe and ingredients. Can you relate?

Not sure which days were better... though I enjoyed both! :-)

We both love eating at Cheesecake Factory once-in-a-while. They happen to make a lot of my favorite foods and I wanna try cooking all of them at home. This Chicken Chipotle Cream Sauce Pasta... I can eat by buckets! and Sauce!! I can drink with straw! Specially the copycat version I made at home is utterly delicious! Lacking words to describe the flavor! I guess my chipotle-love making me speechless.

This Creamy Chipotle Sauce Pasta has ton of flavor on it's own. That's why I decided to share this recipe without instructions to make chicken. You can use simply use rotisserie chicken, or sauteed mushrooms (vegetarian option) instead. Or if you wanna make exact copycat of Cheesecake Factory's 'Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta' then cook chicken following recipe here. (go for glazed version)

My version of Chipotle Pasta differs slightly from cheesecake factory's original. Here is what I did differently:

1. I have used broccolini instead of asparagus and zucchini instead of red bell peppers. (feel free to bring your own veggies.)2. Used no-oil healthy Baked Honey-Lemon chicken instead of spiced honey-glazed chicken. Get the recipe. here.3. Cheesecake Factory uses chipotle chili powder and no citrus in the sauce. I, however, have used Chipotle Adobo for pronounced chipotle flavor and lime juice to balance the richness of creamy sauce. You can skip both of these. Yet, I recommend trying it once! Chances are you will forget Cheesecake Factory's Chipotle Pasta. ;-)

That's it! I believe, the 'heart' of this dish is in creamy Pasta Cream Sauce and I'm telling you that it will not disappoint you! Make a big batch of sauce because you gonna want to repeat it the very next day! It's THAT scrumptious!

PS: I've been little absent from blog lately due to a sudden short trip to San Jose, California. It's mid of week and my routine is still not streamlined due to busy-busy weekend..... long nights and early mornings... and what not!! However, even though it was Vishal's work trip.... we had great time while driving back... kinda mini road trip :) I'll be sharing some delicious pictures in coming post.

Tortilla Strips (optional)

Directions

Hide Step Photos

1.
Combine all Chipotle Sauce ingredients in blender, puree to a smooth paste, transfer to a bowl, and refrigerate if not using immediately. (yields about 1/2 cup sauce)

2.
Bring a large pot of water to rolling boil. Season with salt. Add half-moon sliced zucchini, and broccolini. Boil for 1 minute or until just crisp tender. Remove to a plate. In same boiling water, add pasta and cook until al-dente or follow the package directions. Once cooked, drain the pasta (reserve pasta liquid) and set aside both.

3.
If serving tortillas chips. Heat oil for frying in a shallow frying pan. (you don't need a lot of oil. Just fill a small pan 1/2 inch). Slice corn tortilla into thin strips. When oil is hot, add strips and fry until light golden. Remove on a plate lined with paper towel. Season with salt. Set aside.

4.
Heat a pan on medium heat. Add chipotle pasta sauce and let it sizzle for 15 seconds. Now add cream and 1/4 cup pasta water and let it cook for 30 sec more or until warms through.

5.
Mix well and switch off the heat.

6.
Add in pasta, boiled veggies, frozen peas, and toss to combine.

7.
Transfer to serving plates. Top with sliced chicken and tortilla strips. Garnish with grated parmesan and chopped parsley. Serve and enjoy!

Comment

22 comment(s)

Debi

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

I did make it with the peppers and adobo the first time and it was waaayyy too hot and spicy!! So, instead of the Chipotle peppers and the adobo sauce, I used 1 teaspoon of my Southwest Seasoning and it turned out perfect, just like Cheesecake Factory.

Savita

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Hi Debi, I'm glad you find your preferred balance of heat with southwest seasoning. You can also reduce the amount of adobo sauce to get less heat.

Lara

Friday, July 7, 2017

You inspired me! I was looking for a sofritas recipe to pair with black beans, rice and plantains and I hadn't even imagined seeking out the CHIPOTLE version - which, yes, is so delish! Your whole blog is full of wonderful ideas for dinner - lots of great vegetarian/adaptable to vegetarian dishes. Thank you for experimenting with the restaurant copycat dishes, as well. I will be a regular visitor of your blog from now on! :)

Savita

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Hi Lara, I'm so enjoying reading your feedback. Without doubt, Chipotle is my favorite flavor in the world! Thanks for encouraging my experimenting. I honestly love making everything at home. I hope you find lots of favorites on CDH. Thanks for sharing sweet words. Happy cooking!

Candice

Monday, June 12, 2017

Dude, I made this last night. AMAZING!!!!!

Savita

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Hi Candice, I'm glad you enjoyed chipotle pasta. I agree, it does taste very delicious! thanks for sharing your feedback.

Ariana

Friday, March 10, 2017

Hey,
Does this taste like the Cheesecake Factory chicken chipotle pasta?
Thanks

Savita

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Hi Ariana, yes, this pasta tastes like Cheesecake Factory Chicken Chipotle Pasta. Only, sauce is little more flavorful and I have used different veggies. If you like their pasta, you will enjoy this too! I hope it helps.

Bavs

Friday, September 30, 2016

Hello,
I want to try this so bad! I love this at the cheesecake factory too!!
I have a question on the adobo sauce... are we using 2 cans of those?
Thanks, hope to hear back from you and can't wait to try this.

Savita

Friday, September 30, 2016

Bavs, ingredient description for Chipotle peppers says 2 whole peppers and plus 1 tbsp sauce. I meant, I use only two chipotle peppers and one tbsp of adobo sauce. (it does not need two cans of chipotle but 2 peppers.) I hope it clarifies your doubt.

Y lee

Friday, August 5, 2016

It looks like there's garlic in the photo with the first step, is there garlic in the recipe?

Savita

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Lee, thanks for pointing out, I have updated ingredients. Sauce does need garlic.

Lana Koehler

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

I made this for my husband tonight and he loved it! It was a little hot for his taste (I might have gotten a little carried away with the Chipotle Chili in adobo), but he ate every bite anyway! I doubled the sauce and it was perfect.

Savita

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Hi Lana , thanks for your feedback. I'm glad your family enjoyed this pasta. Being a chipotle lover myself, I often end up a bit more in everything! :) You have a great day. Best, Savita